NZ, UK to cooperate in Pacific

LONDON: Britain and New Zealand will cohost a forum on Pacific climate change issues later this year.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the pledge on closer cooperation in the Pacific made by his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, following talks between the pair in London yesterday.

The pair met at the Churchill War Rooms, an underground complex at Westminster where Winston Churchill and his Cabinet directed the course of World War 2.

The two foreign ministers discussed a range of issues, including future negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement postBrexit in March 2019, and Mr Peters reiterated New Zealand’s support for the UK following the attack in Salisbury.

After the meeting, Mr Johnson said the United Kingdom was one of the Pacific’s oldest friends and wanted to play an even more valuable role as a partner to Pacific Island countries.

‘‘We have agreed that the United Kingdom and New Zealand will cohost a Wilton Park forum on Pacific climate change issues in the United Kingdom in December 2018,’’ he said.

‘‘Pacific Island leaders have shone a light on the grave impacts of climate change.

‘‘This forum will further highlight Pacific challenges and priorities, and show how the Pacific can be an early example for how to develop global responses to climate change.’’

Mr Peters welcomed Britain’s plan to ramp up its engagement in the Pacific and offered practical support for its efforts.

‘‘Our discussions also underlined the ongoing strength of the ties between us, as well as the scope that exists for even deeper cooperation in many areas, whether through policy dialogue on priority issues, secondments and exchanges between government agencies, or practical initiatives to work together domestically and around the world,’’ Mr Peters said in a statement.

Wilton Park is an international forum for strategic discussion and organises more than 60 events a year in the UK and overseas. It brings together leading representatives from politics, diplomacy, academia, business, civil society, the military and the media. — NZME

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Just like the old days . . . Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meets New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters in the Churchill Cabinet War rooms in London.